St Lucia
Island Paradise 2017
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greatest ascent is 1,900 feet (570m) at
Gros Piton.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in St Lucia
We arrive at Hewannora Airport on the
south of St Lucia and transfer on the
spectacular road north to Rodney Bay
and the Bay Gardens Resort & Spa. (12
nights)
(Meals included: dinner)
Day 2: Pigeon Island and Gros Islet
We ease into our exploration of St
Lucia with a leisurely morning at
Pigeon Island National Park, located
quite close to Rodney Bay on a thin
peninsula north of the village of Gros
Islet.
Join us on one of the most beautiful
islands in the West Indies. Lush forests,
waterfalls, idyllic natural harbours and
white sand beaches will be explored
on our walks throughout the island.
Accompanied by an experienced
local leader our trails will introduce us
to an exciting Creole culture, and to
historic sites harking back to the days
of early exploration, making this an
excellent walking holiday.
In 1970 Rodney Bay Marina was
dredged to create a better yachting
anchorage and the dredged material
was used to connect Pigeon Island to
the mainland via a causeway. The
green lawns are dotted with old
military ruins and the garden
surroundings provide a peaceful
refuge for many bird species. A
winding trail through the island’s 17th
and 18th century ruins leads to Fort
Rodney and Signal Hill, from where
For an island of its size, there are
numerous different habitats to explore,
including the spectacular Pitons, rising
directly out of the sea. St Lucia is
indeed a natural paradise.
Walks are on marked paths, some
through dense rainforest, with
distances up to 5 miles (8km) on
frequently undulating terrain. The
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there are panoramic views in every
direction.
sargassum seaweed which has drifted
to the Caribbean area, before walking
back uphill. There are many tropical
birds, pumpkin fields, watermelons and
a variety of vegetables including the
cassava, which was the favourite
meal for the Amerindian Indians.
It is said that Admiral Rodney used this
viewpoint to keep an eye on French
movements at Martinique. Because of
his observance the British were able to
stop the French from attacking
Jamaica in 1782 by engaging in the
most famous naval battle in the
Caribbean, ‘The Battle of the Saints’.
Onwards to Greenwood Terrace to
walk through the local Herb &
Traditional Medicinal Gardens learning
about the island’s traditional
practices. We visit the Display Hall
where the history, the culture of the
island and the lives of our forefathers
are on display before enjoying a
typical St. Lucian Creole lunch. Relax
on the patio before returning to the
hotel.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch,
dinner)
We will enjoy a picnic lunch on Pigeon
Island beach and then stroll down to
the village of Gros Islet and its
atmospheric waterfront. We visit
Rodney Bay Marina with time for a
short stroll and an ice cream (at own
cost) before returning to the hotel.
Distance: Signal Hill: 0.75 miles/1.2km,
330ft/100m at its highest point.
Fort Rodney: 0.5 miles/0.8km,
224ft/70m at its highest point.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch,
dinner)
Day 4: Castries Walk
An interesting day showcasing the
historical aspects of life on an island
which was at the centre of a “Tug of
War” between the French and the
British during the 18th century.
Day 3: Dauphin Walk to the
Petroglyphs
A 30 minute drive from the hotel will
take us to the Dauphin area, the site
of the first Catholic Church on the
island and one of the first settlements
on St. Lucia. There, we’ll enjoy a
downhill walk, along an
unpaved track, through the
vegetation to view a petroglyph
which appears to depict a family with
the mother’s right hand pointing to the
ground while the child stands before
her. There are rock cut basins which
form a rough line running eastward
from the petroglyph at the base of an
interesting basalt hill near the sea.
Our first stop is a visit to the Vigie Point
where the Vigie Lighthouse (1914)
stands guard over the harbour. The
next stop is St. Mary’s College, a boy’s
school which dates back to 1890.
From there we walk a short distance
along the seashore and see the
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Onwards to the colourful Castries
Market (opened in 1894) and named
by National Geographic as the 3rd
best food market in the World. You
can purchase souvenirs or simply enjoy
the ambience.
Walk through the city to the beautiful
Catholic Cathedral, the Derek Walcott
Square, the Castries Library (1923), and
the Central Post Office all of which are
of historical significance to the island.
A drive along the East Coast will take
us to this forest reserve. We’ll walk
amidst massive towering trees and a
magical array of beautiful flora and
fauna exploring this enchanting and
natural habitat with its stunningly
beautiful tropical and endemic birds.
Experience the thrill of seeing a boa
constrictor lying on a distant tree trunk
as your guide walks through this
looped wildlife sanctuary with you.
Onwards to Morne Fortune, to walk
alongside historical buildings dating
back to the 18th century now housing
the offices of the Organisation Of
Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and
the Sir Arthur Lewis Community
College. Stop at the Inskilling
Monument to enjoy the remarkable
views.
We travel onwards to Benny’s Place,
nestled in the village of Anse La Raye
to enjoy lunch at this small but
authentic St. Lucian Restaurant.
Onwards to the village of Anse La
Raye to walk along the waterfront and
if lucky to see the fishermen mending
their nets.
We’ll drive through the farming
community of Baboneau before
returning to the hotel.
(Distance 4 miles/6km, 330ft/100m of
ascent.)
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch,
dinner)
Day 5: Descartier Rainforest Trail
Dinner will be at Flavors of the Grill
Restaurant nestled in the town of Gros
Islet before strolling through the town
to witness the activities of the
renowned Friday Night Gross Islet
Street Party. A very casual evening.
An excellent excursion for those who
welcome the opportunity to walk
through lush green forest to admire
Mother Nature at her best.
Distance 3 miles/5km, 900ft /270m at
its highest point.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch,
dinner)
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Day 6: Day at Leisure
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch,
dinner)
Today is at leisure to relax at the hotel
or explore the area. There is also a
variety of optional excursions that can
be taken, including catamaran trips,
snorkelling, a gondola ride over the
forest canopy or even a zip wire for
the adventurous (all payable
locally).
(Meals included: breakfast, dinner)
Day 8: Day at Leisure
(Meals included: breakfast, dinner)
Day 7: Gros Piton walk
We’ll see numerous brigand sites
including caves, tunnels, rock shelters,
camps, signal stations, lookouts and
landing sites. Tropical birds are plentiful
and there are dramatic changes in
the vegetation as we ascend to the
peak.
Day 9: Louvet Trail
This walk takes us along the undulating
countryside of the northeast of the
island, off the beaten track, to an area
which is known as the home of the
elusive iguanas. The vegetation here is
varied and the many splendid views of
the Atlantic Ocean are dramatic.
Indigenous birds can be spotted as we
walk on the trail. Local fruit trees,
banana, coconut and vegetable
plantations are plentiful and we may
see the farmers as they tend their
gardens and go about their daily
chores.
For a more moderate walk, there are
stopping points and a viewpoint
halfway up, and then it’s possible to
return to the base to have lunch and
relax before the others return.
On the way back to the hotel we’ll
stop to see a cattle egret colony living
in the mangroves.
This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner at
Stony Hill Villa, set in tropical gardens
with wonderful sea views.
Distance 5 miles/8km, 1,000ft/300m of
ascent.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch,
dinner)
The second half of the climb is quite
steep and is for the physically fit only.
Even the first half of the walk can be
quite steep in places.
Distance: 4 miles/6.5km,1,900ft/570m
at its highest point.
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Day 10: North Coast Walk
fishermen mending their nets, or
bringing in their catch.
Today we walk through Cap Estate
and to Cas En Bas beach with its
Amerindian site and white sandy
shores. Our walk will be fairly short, no
more than 3 miles (5km) and we will
take it very steadily, with time to enjoy
the rugged north coast.
On the return we’ll stop at the Egret
bird sanctuary where these beautiful
birds blanket the trees above the lily
pads in the pond below.
Distance 3 miles/5km, 390 ft/118m at
its highest point.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
This evening we’ll eat at Laurel’s
Creole Place where good St Lucian
style home cooking is served.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch,
dinner)
Day 12: Font Latisab Creole Park
After a visit to Fond Latisab to discover
a little about Creole traditions, we
begin our walk with a short river
crossing and continue along an
undulating trail through farms of
cashew nuts, mangoes, citrus,
nutmeg, breadfruit, sugarcane and
banana trees to an old sugar mill. We
can see farmers as they tend their
crops, and enjoy fruits in season
straight from the trees.
Day 11: Mamiku Gardens
This morning we’ll drive along the east
coast to the historical gardens of
Madam de Micoud. Set in 12 acres of
natural woodland, there is a series of
gardens with an abundance of
orchids, birds, butterflies and a
medicinal herb garden.
We’ll enjoy lunch at the Pink House
Restaurant, housed in a building of
tremendous historical significance.
Our farewell dinner will be at the
renowned Coalpot Restaurant with
the gentle waves lapping at your side.
Distance: 3 miles/5km, 300ft/90m at its
highest point.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch &
dinner)
We’ll retrace the historical path
walked by the Freedom Fighters
during the French Revolution against
their former French masters and the
British occupying force. This leads into
a forested area before returning along
a country road through a banana
plantation back to the gardens. We
visit the quiet fishing village of
Dennery, where we may see the
Day 13: Departure
We’ll have a morning at leisure before
a transfer to the airport for our return
flight.
(Meals included: breakfast)
Day 14: Arrival in London
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Accommodation
Jacuzzi, fitness centre, and La Mer
Spa. Swimming towels are provided.
The Bay Gardens Beach Resort &
Spa lies on Reduit Beach, with
breathtaking views of the Pigeon
Island and Caribbean Sea.
Tel: +1 758 457 8006
www.baygardensresorts.com
Set amongst landscaped gardens with
light, airy, modern rooms overlooking
the gardens or the sea, this hotel
echoes St Lucia's colonial past with a
mix of Caribbean, French and
Georgian plantation-style design.
Each room has air-conditioning,
ceiling fans, iron, hair dryer, fridge,
cable TV, Internet, and phone, as well
as tea/coffee making facilities.
Hotel facilities include restaurants, a
deli/coffee snack bar, pool bar and
beach bar, a lagoon-style pool with
shooting water fountains, sundeck,
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Kit List
Before your holiday
Please try to keep luggage to a
minimum as you will need to carry it
yourself at airports and between your
transport and your hotel.
We hope you find this information
comprehensive – if not please visit our
website for more details or contact us.
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All details correct at time of writing
(May 2016). Passport and visa
requirements are subject to change;
please check with your consulate
before you travel.
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We would advise that you check your
government’s travel advisory before
travelling. For UK travellers, please
check www.fco.gov.uk
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In all instances during your holiday,
your first point of contact should be
your HF Holidays’ leader or local
leader. If for any reason this is not
possible, HF Holidays’ emergency
contact details are as follows:
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Mon - Fri 9am - 7pm
Tel 0345 470 7558
or +44(0)20 8732 1250 ( from overseas)
Fri - Mon 7pm - 9am
Tel +44 (0)7918 737777
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Airport parking and accommodation
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If you require airport
parking or
accommodation
before your flight, we
recommend our partner Holiday
Extras. Call 0871 360 2750 and quote
HX031 or book online at
www.holidayextras.co.uk/hfholidays
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Walking boots – (worn in) with
good ankle support and spare
bootlaces
Walking sandals
Walking socks
Lightweight fleece
Lightweight waterproof trousers
and jacket
Shorts
Long trousers and long-sleeved
light coloured shirts with collars
to protect from the sun − your
clothing should ideally be pretreated with insect repellent and
in-built sun protection (available
from specialist clothing stores
such as Rohan, Cotswold
Outdoor)
Sun hat
Comfortable clothes and shoes
for evenings and sightseeing
Sun protection – sunglasses, high
factor sunscreen and lip
protection
Water bottle – at least 2 litre
capacity
Lightweight survival bag
Small/medium rucksack (30 litre)
– a bin liner will keep contents
dry if it rains
Soap and hand sanitizer gel
Insect repellent
Universal adaptor plug
Universal sink plug
Personal first aid kit including:
personal medication, tissues,
plasters, blister kit, painkillers,
antiseptic wipes, Imodium,
rehydration sachets
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Passport (and copies); booking
confirmation; insurance cover
note; HF Holidays’ registration
form
Health advice
This is subject to change and we
would highly recommend that you
consult your doctor before travelling.
For further information on country
specific advice, visit
Optional: trekking poles, camera,
umbrella, binoculars, swimming
costume, snorkelling gear and towel.
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or
www.traveldoctor.co.uk
Please ensure you have access to
emergency funds should you need
them; carrying a credit card is
probably the most convenient
method.
Hepatitis A and Tetanus vaccinations
are recommended. Typhoid and
Diphtheria vaccines are sometimes
recommended too. Dengue Fever,
Zika Virus and Chikungunya virus have
been reported so we advise you to
take precautions to avoid being bitten
by mosquitoes.
Please note that your HF Holidays’
leader reserves the right to refuse to
take any guest on a walk should they
consider that a lack of suitable
clothing/footwear may affect safety.
Please note: the use or possession of
some common prescription or overthe-counter medicines is banned in
some countries. If you will be carrying
medication, please check with the
country’s embassy/ consulate prior to
travel. As an extra precaution:
Baggage allowance
1 piece checked-in luggage (max
23kg).
Please check details of your airline’s
baggage allowance, as shown on
your e-ticket. Remember to also check
any connecting flights you may have
booked.
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Passports & visas
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A passport valid for six months is
required to enter St Lucia. Visas are
not required for UK, Australian,
Canadian and USA passport holders.
Other countries should consult the
embassy for advice.
Keep your medication in its
original packet
Take a copy of your prescription
too
If possible, ask your chemist to
write the name of your
medication in the language of
the country that you’re visiting
Dietary requirements
Please contact us as far in advance as
possible if you have any specific
dietary requirements. We will do our
best to accommodate you. If you
require a specific meal on the flight,
please let us know as soon as possible,
and no later than 96 hours before
travel.
Travel insurance
If arranging your own travel insurance,
please ensure it is adequate for your
specific itinerary.
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Travel tips for a comfortable flight
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We’ve put together a few simple tips
to help make your flight as
comfortable as possible, ensuring you
begin your holiday in tip-top shape.
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Flight socks are recommended
to help prevent DVT on longhaul flights
Lost/damaged luggage
If your bag or its contents are
damaged or lost while in the airline’s
care, this should be reported to the
baggage service agents at the
airport. They will assess the damage
and in some cases the airline may
decide to settle your claim
immediately. You will be given a
reference to quote to your insurance
company if settlement cannot be
reached. In many cases baggage
claims can only be accepted in
writing. A baggage claim form must
be obtained from the airport.
Move about. Change position
and avoid crossing your legs.
Immobility poses the greatest risk
in the development of clotting
disorders. Get out of your seat
and walk around as regularly as
possible to improve circulation
No pills. Unless advised by your
doctor, do not take sleeping
tablets on the flight; this will
reduce your mobility and make
you feel sluggish
Protect your ears. If you
experience discomfort due to
the cabin pressure changes,
suck a sweet, chew, or hold
your nostrils and gently blow
through your nose; this should
equalise the pressure. If you still
experience problems, speak to
a member of the cabin crew
Drink plenty. Ask a member of
the cabin crew if you are thirsty.
Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee or
carbonated drinks as these will
dehydrate you. Instead, try to
drink plenty of fruit juices or
water
Eat light. Avoid heavy meals
and foods – air expands at
altitude and heavy meals will
result in that bloated feeling
Moisturise. Your skin, especially
your lips and nostrils, may feel
dry so moisturising creams may
help. If you wear contact lenses,
always carry your glasses with
you, as your eyes may feel dryer
than usual
Stay loose. Wear loose fitting,
comfortable shoes and clothes
HF Holidays’ with-flight guests
For those travelling on our HF Holidays’
group flight, please proceed to the
arrivals hall once you have passed
through passport control, customs and
baggage reclaim, when you arrive at
your destination. Your leader or local
leader will assemble the group in the
arrivals hall. Look out for the
HF Holidays’ sign.
Independent travellers
If you are arriving ahead of the group,
and are meeting them at the first
hotel, please leave a message at the
hotel reception for the HF Holidays’
leader or local leader, detailing your
room number, and a mobile
telephone number if possible. The
leader will contact you once the
group arrives. If you are arriving after
the group, a message will be left for
you at the hotel reception, welcoming
you and giving details of the time and
place to meet the group. If your flight
arrives before the group flight and you
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would like to join the transfer to the first
hotel, please contact our Abroad
Administration team on (0)20 8732
1271. They will have a list of the
relevant transfer costs.
additional tips are at your own
discretion.
Climate
The climate of St Lucia is tropical, with
temperatures ranging from the mid20’s to mid-30’s °C (mid 70’s to mid
80’s °F). The heat is tempered by sea
breezes and prevailing northeasterly
trade winds. The driest period on the
island is from February to May, though
short showers can occur throughout
the year, and the wet season is usually
from June to September. The rainforest
in the interior of the island receives
more than double the average
annual rainfall on the north and south
coasts.
Safety on your holiday
Once you have made your booking,
you will receive a pre-holiday
questionnaire where we ask for details
of next of kin, and insurance details.
We need to have this from you at least
4 weeks before travel.
Please also inform us of any medical
situation which may affect your
enjoyment of the holiday
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Please listen to any safety
instructions from the leader
Keep group members in view,
especially if weather or visibility
is poor
If you become separated from
the group, please stay where
you are, the leader will retrace
their steps to find you
Each leader carries a first aid kit
but is not allowed to supply any
medication including aspirin,
paracetamol, antihistamines,
and antiseptic cream. You may
wish to bring these items with
you
Local currency & money matters
Eastern Caribbean Dollars (EC$);
however American and Canadian
dollars and the British pound are
widely accepted. Credit cards widely
accepted, but not in craft markets or
smaller stores. Most banks have
ATMs. Traveller’s cheques are not
advised.
Electricity
230V, British square 3 pin plugs
In the unlikely event that your leader is
incapacitated, please use any
emergency kit in their rucksack and
call emergency services on 911 or 999.
Please then call our emergency
number (see page 8) and let us know
there is a problem.
Suggested reading and maps
Tipping
Maps can be obtained from The
Mapshop
www.themapshop.co.uk
Berlitz: St Lucia Pocket Guide
Uzo Marvin: History of St Lucia,
Caribbean Island, History of an Era:
People, Economy, Government
Christine Haile: November Remember
Tips have been included in your
holiday price for key services such as
local guides/ driver/restaurants. Any
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Time difference
GMT/UTC -4 hrs
Group size
Maximum 18 guests
HF Holidays Ltd, Catalyst House, Centennial
Court, Elstree, Borehamwood, WD6 3SY, UK
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